Therapy with Single Parents: A Social Constructionist Approach (Hardcover)

Acknowledgments Introduction PART I: SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIENCES OF THE SINGLE AGAIN Chapter 1. Single Again Through Divorce Historical Divorce Rates Interpreting Divorce Rates Social Definitions and Reactions to Divorce Psychological Reactions to Divorce Chapter 2. Single Again Through Widowhood Psychological Differences Between Divorce and Widowhood U.S. Widowhood Rates Social Aspects of Widowhood Psychological Aspects of Widowhood Therapy Strategies Chapter 3. Single-Parent Family Issues General Concern Among Single-Parent Families Cognitive-Behavioral Principles Therapy Strategies Summary Chapter 4. Resiliency and Competence in Children Experiencing Divorce The Competent Divorce Factors Associated with the Competent Divorce What Children Can Learn from Divorce Summary Chapter 5. Redefining Relationships The Ghost versus Reality: Stress Reductions The Ghost versus Reality: Relationship Issues Relationship Rules Perpetual Divorce and Ambiguous Loss Loss and the Family Role of the Professional Therapist Therapy Strategies PART II: SEXUAL EXPERIENCES OF THOSE WHO ARE SINGLE AGAIN Chapter 6. Relational and Sexual Considerations After Divorce Issues in Sexuality Sexually Single Again Sexual Outlets Incidence of Sexual Intercourse Frequency of Sexual Intercourse Number of Partners Initiating Sex Quality of Sex Sex and Single Parents Therapy Strategies Chapter 7. Relational and Sexual Considerations After Widowhood Sexual Considerations of Widowhood HIV/AIDS Therapy Strategies Summary PART III: SINGLE AGAIN AND DEALING WITH THE LARGER SYSTEMS Chapter 8. Interacting with School Personnel The Pathology Assumption Academic Resilience Challenging “Reality” The School Psychoeducational Models Self-Fulfilling Prophesies Failure Analysis The Family The School and the Family Role of the Professional Therapist Therapy Strategies Chapter 9. Single Parents, Work, and Welfare The Feminization of Poverty Poverty and Psychological Distress Therapeutic Value of Support Networks Role of the Professional Therapist Therapy Strategies PART IV: SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION THERAPY WITH THE SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY Chapter 10. The Single-Parent Family and Social Constructions Social Constructionist Theory Social Constructionist Therapy Theoretical Concepts Therapy Strategies Summary Chapter 11. Conclusions Reexamining the Pathology Assumption The Myth of Pathology Interpersonal and Systemic Circularity Summary Bibliography Annotated Bibliography and Internet Resources Index Reference Notes Included